Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge and congratulate the following young Indigenous Tlicho citizens who participated in Arctic Winter Games 2023:
Jimmy Joe Drybones;
Tenisha Steinwand;
Joshua Wedzin;
Patsy Wetrade. Patsy is originally from Whati but she is living in Behchoko to attend Chief Jimmy Bruneau school;
Rusty Mantla is an admission coach; and,
Ryan Barbeau is a teacher and a coach.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud of these young people’s dedication and commitment to sports. They work hard and represented the NWT, especially the Tlicho Nations, but we do more participants from the outlying communities. We have less representation at the Arctic Winter Games.
Mr. Speaker, sports and recreation is critical to life in the NWT. We need to ensure that our children and youth always have outlets and opportunities to play and compete in sports. We know that sports give discipline, structure, and opportunities. Exercise and sports is good for mental health as it is widely reported, and it is a healthy outlet.
Mr. Speaker, one of the Tlicho community governments, specifically Behchoko, the recreation budget is about $2 million but they get very little support from MACA for recreation program, less than $100,000. The funding and recreation programs are using the funds by renting out the sportsplex to other people to generate funds. And even the rent is not enough to sustain the program and services delivered.
Our infrastructure funding, the community government funding, CPI and gas tax, is about $1.7 million, which is nowhere near our infrastructure need, for example, replacing aging pipe in Behchoko and Edzo. This project will take up – Mr. Speaker, can I have unanimous consent to conclude.
Unanimous consent granted
Thank you. The infrastructure funding CPI and gas tax is about $1.7 million, which is nowhere near the infrastructure needs of the community to replace the aging pipe in Behchoko and Edzo. This project will take up to $30 million, and this is a big challenge. The community government operation and maintenance and water and sewer subsidy funding are not increasing. And as you are aware, the fuel prices, power costs, food – the increase in groceries are all increasing. The cost of living are increasing, and it is –fficult to make ends meet. Sports is so important to children and youth it is recognized to reduce the risk of suicide.
Mr. Speaker, due to lack of funds, community government are struggling to deliver program and services. Communities in my ridings are having to do cutbacks in workers. Mr. Speaker, we must ensure that we do not cut the recreation department. We need to ensure that above all else that children and youth always have access to playing and competing in sports. Thank you. I will have questions for the Minister of MACA.
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Members’ statements. Member for Nahendeh.
